It’s officially spring, and if you’re thinking about starting a flock of your own, there are a few important things to sort out before you bring home those sweet little chicks Plenty of first-time keepers, in a rush of excitement, buy the chicks and nothing else, only to realize at home that day-old birds need quite a lot of gear to survive their first weeks A little preparation makes all the difference Here’s a complete checklist for buying baby chicks, from checking local rules to setting up before the birds ever arrive